The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-11-04
JACKS REFORMATION.
"A Woman That 'ud Fight for Him
Worth Treatin' White"


Hit appears to me like sometlin' OF
to be done with that Teller Hardness
an with his wife, too, fur that mat
ter"
The speaker was man apparently
sixty years Of age, but his tall sinewy
form stood erect. and. notwithstanding
his gray hairs, it was plain to the cas-
ual observer that old Jim Ganey wa.
good for several years yet
1t was at the close of an autumn day,
when party who had been working
the "big-road'' halted for roll-call.
The road stretched itself out for sew
'eral miles over flint hills. along pic
turesque valleys. and across streams
that were innocent of all bridges, other
than the primitive foot-log. Twice
every year old Jim Ganey called upon
all able-bodied citizens of Heelstring
district, between the ages of twenty
one and fifty years. to work the road.
And such road working it was! There
was no turnpike to keep in condition.
There was no rOad-tax, except such as
old Jim levied in the form of labor
upon the sturdy natives. At seven
O'Clock in the morning all hands as
sembled at the point where the road
crossed the district line. Some brought
picks, Others axes. still others scythes.
spades; in fact what ever happened to
be the handiest when they left home. or
would be the easiest handled during
the day. Every man supplied his own
tools and used them TO suit himself.
During the day the entire body
marched over the eight miles of road.
Occasionally Ganey would point out a
stump or large stone, which he de-
sired removed, and there was no.
ticeable increase in his interest in Off
cial duties when they came in the vicin-
ity of his own home; but usually the
men were left to make their own selec-
ton of work. Some. who had brought
no tools, confined themselves to throw.
ing out loose stones; others occasional.
1y cut three notches on convenient
trees at the roadside, with never a
thought of the royal origin of the Gus
tom. Some of the men even brought
horses along and rode the greater por.
ton of the way. but contrived to claim
their attendance.
1t was after the roll had been called,
that the party fell to discussing Jack
Hardness, the only absentee. 1t wa.
a clear case of being conspicuous b,
his absence. and Jacks family affair:
were weighed in the balance of Heel
string public opinion. and found woe
fully wanting.
''What is the matter with Harkness?''
asked Dick Archer, a ''new conner
who had recently arrived from the
''Western Reserve"
Ivy, I'll tell ye!" exclaimed Alb,
Thorn. He come over here from
Jinin' county, an bought piece o.
land down on Beavco creek; but h.
hain't no manner account He won,
half work; he drinks the worst article
of cross-holler Ticker he can skier up
he won't work the road, an he lick.
his woman"
when she don't clean him up
suggested Ganey; ''for I've hearn tha
the old woman amt no SLOUGH in thes,
here family misunderstanding; bu
then there wouldn't be any thing il
that" And the old man shook hi
head doubtfully.
.'Well, eff we'd regelate him little
/ think the old woman would regelat,
'erself," said Bill Hankins. 'I'm il
favor of givin' any Teller that whoop
his woman q dose of his own medi
cine"
Before the war;" said Ganey. "w,
us't to take hand in SIGH matters, an
jest after, when things was kinder on
settled; but l tell ye this here thing o
takin' the law into our own hands. i.
mighty onsartin-mighty onsartin."
Il move this meetin' come to order
to consider Harkness's case" suggest
ed Thorn.
"You hear the notion" said the ole
nan, "All in favor say aye
There was rousing response.
IAN opposed had better git up an
dust. an keep their mouths shet be
sides" After pause. during which
nobody busted" Ganey added: 81 ap
PINT myself char man. Gentlemen yor
will sit down."
The men scattered themselves orel
fallen trees, stumps and stones. a few
crouching down upon the ground.
Bill Hankins first took the floor-ol
ground-and presented the entire sub
ject in a manner that called forth ths
admiration of all Heelstring; for Bill
was considered fright smart talker.' y
He rccited the history of Harkncs:
from beginning to end, and dwell
strongly upon the fact that he had re.
peatedly whipped his wife. who bore
scars in evidence thereof. He conclu.
ded with proposition to call on the
subject in a body, and take him out
and give him ..gentecl thrashin'."
Abe Thorn followed in the same
vein. endorsing Bills proposition
warmly. Then there was long
paIse. For it is noticeable fact that
however free men may be in inform.
ally expressing their views. tho mo
ment they are thrust into an organized
public meeting. the majority are over